A stray kitten chose a traveling military family (then in Alabama) who always saw themselves as a “dog family” and was allergic to cats. Before they knew it, they and the dogs fell for the kitten, naming him Jack.
Self-described, “relatable Mama” Monica Brenoskie shares life with her husband Steve, three daughters and two dogs, Sasa and Roxie, on Instagram
On September 26, 2019, the little grey kitten showed up outside their home, meowing in distress. After that, nothing would be the same again.
“Well, I honestly never thought we’d have a cat but here we are, lol. I’ve crossed over to the other side. 😆” said Brenoskie.
Images and media: the.distant.duchess on Instagram
Jack the Kitten Adopts the ‘Dog Family’
After approaching, Steve was able to get close enough to pet the kitten, and they left him some food. After that, Jack made a bed in the planter by the front door. The next morning, the kitten was still there, and Brenoskie planned a trip to the vet after a bath. Ever after, the dog family became cat lovers.
“Apparently, ‘Jack’ read our doormat and decided to stay! It’s the next morning and he stays right on or by our porch, so here we go, I guess. 🤷🏻♀️🤗 I’ve made a vet appointment for this afternoon to get him checked out and we’ll go from there! I’m not sure if we’ll be able keep him or not, but either way he will have a loving home. He’s trying to coming inside and I can feel a touch of allergy coming on. Jack will need a bath, first!. ❤️ 🐈 .”
How to Introduce a Kitten to Family Dogs?
Now, the problem was that the mom wasn’t sure if her dogs would accept Jack or see him “as a chew toy.” Determined, she took things slowly. After watching YouTube videos about how to introduce cats to dogs, she tried giving the dogs treats while Jack was safe inside a kennel. By taking baby steps, they soon reached success. Meanwhile, the kids were smitten with Jack.
“Both dogs were willing to change their views within two days,” she says.
While the senior pup Sasa just wanted to be left alone, Roxie the puppy took Jack under her wing. Almost instantly, they were like two peas in a pod.
The whole experience was different for a family who had only had dogs before.
“Being adopted by Jack has been an experience filled with laughs and frustrations. TOTALLY different than all my experience with only having dogs,” Brenoskie says. “But he chose our family. He’s home. And, he’s loved.”
“When a dog family gets adopted by a feral kitten. ❤️ 🐱”
Related: Woman Rescues Kevin the Kitten in a Tree, Then He Adopts the Family
Two Peas In a Pod
Since they first met, we see that Roxie and Jack’s love affair continues.
“I often tell Roxie that she needs to keep her kitten in line. Or I’ll ask her where her kitten is. But really Roxie is just as much of Jack’s puppy. She wants to be where he is and if she sees Jack make a jump she hadn’t thought of before, you’ll see her have this lightbulb moment, and then she’ll attempt it too. Lol. It’s pretty entertaining. My original fur baby, Sasa, is older and doesn’t play with them at all. So, they’ve become like two peas in a pod and they’re growing up together. ❤️.”
“These two literally chew on each other all day long. Now that’s love.”
Jack Shows the Dog Family How to Cat
Now a fully grown elegant “house panther,” Jack continues to show his family how to love a cat.
“Jack’s love language: When I want your attention, you give it to me. When I bestow you the honor of actually sitting on your lap, you do nothing else. Nothing! You may pet me, but only a little. If you move your hands in any way I find distasteful, I correct you. If you try and do anything while I am bestowing my attention on you, I correct you. If you try and correct me as I try and grab or swipe anything within reach, I correct you. You graciously sit there, grateful that I am making my time all about you, and wait for me to decide when you’ve had enough of my attention.”
Sasa Loo and Roxie
Sasa Loo, the little black and brown dog, is Brenoskie’s “first born,” who will turn 14 this year. When Sasa was just 6 weeks old, Brenoskie adopted her in Okinawa. Brenoskie’s artistic soft-sculpture business is named after her beloved Sasa as a mascot. She often creates adorable Japanese Kokeshi dolls, a reminder of life in Japan. But, she also makes magical creatures such as handmade unicorns
“For Roxie’s first birthday, we got her a kitten (or so we tell her since Jack really adopted us)…. so it’s only fair that Jack gets a unicorn for Halloween, right?”
In 2019, the family officially adopted Roxie, a dachshund/terrier mix puppy rescued from a hoarding situation.
“Their very first furry sibling portrait. And like with my kids, I’m lucky if I can snap a shot while everyone is looking at the same time and when they’re not messing with each other. Can you guess who the instigator was? 😆💗🐶🐱🐶 Oh! And I think it is of note to mention that last month was very special for all three of these babies. We celebrated a first birthday, an 11th birthday, and it’s the month that Jack showed up in our yard and adopted us.”
Below, they are all grown up and still loving life and each other.
“Waiting to “come in to the out” like….”
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